Tuesday, 29 Nov 2016

Written Answers Nos. 375-387

Child Abduction

Questions (378)

Gino Kenny

Question:

378. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); if he will intervene by contacting the Algerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37486/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The case referred to is a particularly devastating one for the parent left behind.

Regarding any case of parental child abduction, my Department’s general policy is to discuss and explore with the left behind parent possible mediation options; possible legal avenues to be pursued in the country where the child or children have been taken; and to seek to facilitate a welfare check on the child or children concerned.

Any case of parental child abduction is made far more complex and difficult to resolve should the country concerned not be a signatory to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

Officials in my Department, both at our Consular Assistance team at HQ and at our Embassy in Berne, which is accredited to Algeria, have provided advice and information to the relevant Irish parent, since contact was first made, that is fully in line with Departmental policy.

My Department has also raised this case with the Algerian authorities on a number of occasions.

Both our consular assistance team and our Embassy in Berne will continue to liaise with the Irish citizen concerned and provide any consular support that they can, with a particular focus on the welfare of the children.

Consular Services Provision

Questions (379)

Gino Kenny

Question:

379. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he has taken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37487/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am very much aware of the consular case in the Philippines and the very difficult circumstances in which this individual and his family find themselves.

I have personally raised my concerns with senior Philippines Government contacts, including most recently in New York in September.

For any Irish citizen subject to criminal proceedings abroad, my Department officials will offer non-judgemental advice and any appropriate practical help that they can, irrespective of the alleged offence, and regardless of whether the individual is ultimately deemed to be innocent or guilty, is on remand or has already been sentenced by a court of law.

This present case is the subject of an ongoing legal process in the Philippines. The Irish citizen, who remains on bail, has filed an appeal with the Philippines Supreme Court against his conviction and sentence. I understand that my officials in Embassy Singapore, on foot of a request from the individual concerned, are examining whether it is possible to seek to have the appeal process expedited, on humanitarian grounds.

My Department officials at headquarters in Dublin, at our Embassy in Singapore, which is accredited to the Philippines, and our Honorary Consul in Manila, have all been engaged in the case, have provided consular assistance and have raised the individual’s concerns with relevant authorities in Manila.

The citizen is in regular contact with my consular officials in Singapore and in Dublin. The Consul from our Embassy in Singapore met with the individual in person last month, officials from my Department have previously met with the wife of the individual concerned, and earlier this month officials from my Department met with a representative of the individual in Dublin.

I and my Department officials are continuing to give the matter priority attention.

Question No. 380 answered with Question No. 367.

Passport Data

Questions (381)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

381. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued in 2015 and to date in 2016; the amount of revenue generated through passports being issued; the amount of revenue generated through issuing the passport cards per month in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The number of passports issued in 2015 was 672,760 and this generated €42.3m in receipts. The number of passports issued to 28th November is 705,668 which generated a total of €42.2m in receipts. The receipts generated through passports cards per month in 2016 are as follows:

Month		Receipts generated
January		€87,925
February		€80,490
March		€71,970
April		€76,340
May		€129,105
June		€95,735
July		€70,165
August		€68,790
September		€63,750
October		€56,135

The revenue streams are appropriations in aid and are remitted directly to the exchequer.

The passport is a key travel and identity document. The processing of applications by the Passport Service involves the deployment of significant resources including to develop new business processes to modernise enrolment, checking and production systems and improve customer service. Software solutions and data analytics, including facial recognition, are also deployed to combat identity theft and maintain the integrity and high international reputation of the Irish passport.

The passport card is the latest initiative which gives adult Irish passport holders the option of a credit card-sized travel document for travel to 31 countries in total, including the EU/EEA plus Switzerland.

Departmental Reports

Questions (382)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

382. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reports commissioned by his Department since 2006 which while completed or are in final draft form have not been published; the reason they have not been published; the expected publication date; the cost to date of each such report; if tenders were invited; if it is not intended to publish any such report the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37549/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).

The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department. Independent evaluation of programmes and analysis of issues by external experts has informed - and continues to inform - my Department’s policies, allowing for more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets. From time to time a number of consultancies are occasionally engaged directly by our Missions abroad. During the course of their engagements, these consultants/experts may prepare reports as internal management tools for my Department.

Where appropriate, my Department publishes information on www.dfa.ie and www.irishaid.ie in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis having regard to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability.

It was not possible in the time available to set out the numbers of reports commissioned by my Department since 2006 which were not published. The tables set out the details of unpublished reports commissioned since 2011.

Commission	Experts/Consultants	Report/Subject	Cost (€)	Date of publication
2011	Kevin Moore	Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment	17,861	Not Applicable – see footnote*
2011	Paul Sheane	Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment	9,965	*
2011	Stefanie Meredith	Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries	10,100	*
2011	Samia Saad	Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries	9,198	*
2011	Paud Murphy	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	9,064	*
2011	80:20	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	9,870	*
2011	Eilis Murray	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	6,068	*
2011	ISOS	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	42,247	*
2011	Bernard McLoughlin	Review of the Irish Aid Centre, Dublin	6,143	*
2011	Cathal Higgins	Preparation of a report on the programme of education sector budget support towards school infrastructural development in Karamoja region and skills development in the oil sector (Uganda)	5,000	*
2011	Mike Williams	Review of Humanitarian Programme Plan for Irish Aid	18,742	*
2011	Humanitarian Policy Ltd	Review of Security Policy & Practice among Irish Aid Humanitarian Partners	33,930	*
2012	Cathy Roche	Review of the Our World Awards 2005-2011	6,300	*
2012	Fintan Farrelly	Review of the Irish Aid Strategic Environmental Partnership Programme	6,000	*
2012	Mike Williams	Review of Misean Cara	15,099	*
2012	Pham Quang Hoa	Local consultancy contract 'Review of P135 infrastructure projects funded by Irish Aid'	5,453	*
2013	Wright Consultancy Ltd	Gender Equality Audit	14,000	*
2013	Mary Jennings	Review of HRD (Human Rights and Democratisation) Scheme Irish Aid Palestine	15,500	*
2013	Gareth Williams	Review of Financial and Programme of the Camara Education Programme	20,000	*
2013	John Geraghty	Review of University College Cork’s Programme of Technical Support Internships for Food Security	7,568	*
2013	Natural Research Institute	Review of Irish Aid Support to Fair and Ethical Trade Initiatives	19,292	*
2013	Pham Quang Hoa	Review Programme 135 (for Ethnic Minorities) of Irish Aid funded infrastructure projects	5,588	*
2013	Gareth Singleton	Review of Irish Forum for Global Health	8,395.27	*
2014	Gareth Singleton	Review of Royal College of Surgeons	25,756	*
2014	Tierney & Associates, Risk & Governance Consultants	Audit of grants awarded under Emigrant Support Programme	19,934	*
2014	Hogan Lovells, Washington	Review of tax, social insurance and health obligations and other conditions of service in respect of locally-recruited staff members at our missions in the United States	57,756	*
2014	Andy Pollak	Review of Irish Aid support for Initial Teacher Education	11,564	*
2014	ADETEF	OECD DAC EVALNET Study on Collaborative Partner- Donor Evaluation Work	25,000	*
2014	Tran Thi Ngoc Diep	Local input into Review of Irish Aid scholarship programmes	1,502	*
2014	Tom Collins	Feasibility Study - Celebrating and Sustaining Ireland’s relationship with Africa	5,000	*
2014	ITAD Limited	Mid Term Review of the Civil Society Support Programme	68,135	*
2014	Cathy Gaynor/Niamh O’Grady/Gill Roe	Evaluability Assessment of the Programme of Strategic Cooperation	43,200	*
2014	Willis Risk Services (Ireland) Limited	Consultancy for insurance policy report and tender documentation for the Rapid Response Corps	6,150	*
2014	Mekong Dev Research Institute	Impact assessment of Irish Aid funded infrastructure projects under P135 in 2011 & 2012	43,912	*
2014	ASM (B) Ltd	Payroll System Audit	11,636	*
2015	ASM	Audit of grants awarded under Emigrant Support Programme	€9,800	*
2015	Peter McEvoy	Professional Services for the appraisal of Irish Aid fellowship Training Programme	16,560	*
2015	Coffey International Development Ltd	Review of the Irish Aid Programme Grant Mechanism	23,588	*
2015	Tran Thi Ngoc Diep	Local input into scoping study to explore Ireland’s cooperation in the agriculture & agribusiness sector under the IDEAS programme	4,442	*
2015	Johnny O ‘Regan	Organisational Assessment of Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice	4,400	*
2015	ASM	The provision of audit services to examine grants awarded under the ESP	14,700	*
2015	Mazars	ICT Audit	27,552	*
2015	Crowleys DFK	Payment System Audit	19,004	*
2015	Gemma O Reilly	UNFCCC Reporting and Climate Finance Mapping 2015-2016	27,041.42	*
2015	Anne Nolan	Review of HSE MOU	8,100	*
2015	Alasdair Collins DP Evaluation	Evaluation of IDEA’s (Irish Development Education Association) Capacity Development Programme 2013-2015	5,212	*
2015	Dr Mary Gannon	Evaluation of Worldwise Global Schools Programme 2013-2016	17,060	Publication expected in the coming weeks
2015	Cathal Reidy	A review of Ireland’s Humanitarian Emergency Relief Supplies	36,290	*
2016	Sebastian Kevany	Review of Irish Aid-Clinton Health Access Initiative Partnership 2011-2015	21,368	*
2016	Emily Mates	Stock take of nutrition engagement	13,612.50	*
2016	Noel Casserly	UNFCCC reporting and Climate Finance Mapping 2015-2016	25,370.10	*
2016	Alasdair Collins DP Evaluation	Evaluation of SUAS Global Citizenship Programme 2012-2015	10,879	01/12/2016
2016	Aine Fortune	Evaluation of the 80:20 programme	3,000- Irish Aid funded 1,200	15/12/2016
2017	Anne Nolan/Janet Gruber	Review of Global Health and HIV Review	42,000	*
2017	Technopolis	Review of Product Development Partners	19,000	*

*An internal management report and not for publication.

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Questions (383)

Clare Daly

Question:

383. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the latest report by the Refugee Youth Service concerning migrants; if he has considered the detail of same; and the actions he will take as a result of its findings. [37580/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The report referred to by the Deputy deals with the situation of unaccompanied minors previously located in the Calais camp. The Refugee Youth Service makes a series of recommendations to the responsible French and British authorities. My Department has no responsibility or any oversight role with regard to the matters raised in this report referencing the French and British authorities.

The Deputy is aware that a number of Government Departments are, however, currently working together to advance the recently approved Dáil motion calling on Government to work with the French authorities to identify unaccompanied minors, previously in the Calais camp, who have expressed a wish to relocate to Ireland and not to go to the UK.

Irish Aid

Questions (384, 385, 386, 387)

Barry Cowen

Question:

384. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland donates UN specification-approved goods in kind to the central UN systems in lieu of part payment of Ireland's financial assessed contributions to the UN or as a component part of Ireland’s overseas development aid programme. [37610/16]

Barry Cowen

Question:

385. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland donates Irish manufactured goods in kind that are consistent with UN prior-approved standards to UN humanitarian clusters; and, if not, the reason for this. [37611/16]

Barry Cowen

Question:

386. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it would be meritorious to assist indigenous Irish industry and businesses by donating Irish manufactured goods and products of UN-approved standards as a component of Ireland's overseas development aid programme. [37612/16]

Barry Cowen

Question:

387. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland donated Irish manufactured goods and products to the UN, that would be considered as tied aid within the internationally accepted meaning of this term. [37613/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 387, inclusive, together.

Ireland provided a total €138.2 million in financial contributions to the UN Agencies and Funds in 2015. Of this, €129.4 million was in voluntary contributions and €8.8 million in assessed contribution.

It is not the Government’s policy to donate goods in kind to the UN in lieu of part payment of Ireland’s assessed contributions. However, Ireland does pre-position and stockpile humanitarian relief supplies in UN Humanitarian Response Depots (UNHRD) under the Rapid Response Initiative, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These hubs are strategically located near crisis and disaster-prone areas, in Accra, Brindisi, Dubai, Panama City and Subang, in Malaysia to enable the rapid dispatch of supplies in case of a crisis.

The relief items stockpiled by Ireland in these hubs have been selected in close consultation with UN and NGO partners, which, distribute them in response to a crisis to those most in need to save and protect lives and alleviate suffering. They include UN standard-approved items which are most urgently needed by people in humanitarian crises or emergency situations. These include shelter items, such as family tents, tarpaulins, and rope; basic household items such as blankets, mosquito nets, cooking sets, solar lamps and family hygiene kits; and water and sanitation items such as soap, jerry cans, water tanks, latrine plates and spades. So far in 2016, we have airlifted over 350 tonnes of Ireland’s stockpiled relief supplies into humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Niger, Nigeria, Iraq, and most recently in response to Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.

As well as storing the items in Depots, the UNHRD procures the relief items through a competitive tendering process which is regulated by the World Food Programme (WFP). The Government’s policy for international development, One World One Future, reaffirms our commitment to providing “aid that is not conditional on procurement of goods and services from Ireland”. Ireland’s aid to developing countries is untied and our continued long term commitment to untied aid remains firm. I would strongly encourage all Irish manufacturers of humanitarian relief supplies to apply to become registered suppliers to the WFP Registered Supplier Roster and to register through the United Nations Global Marketplace.